The exodus of California businesses continued in 2023, with the greatest number relocating operations to Texas.
According to a tally kept by the California Policy Center in its California Book of Exoduses, at least 237 companies have left California since 2005, citing the state’s ever-expanding regulatory and taxation climate. More than half of them, over 120, relocated to Texas.
Since Gov. Gavin Newsom took office in 2019, companies have increasingly left California, with The Center Square reporting each year on the majority primarily relocating to Texas.
This year was no different. Of the 30 identified by the center that left California through November, more than a third, 11, moved operations primarily to north Texas.
Three California businesses relocated their headquarters to Frisco: Informativ, a credit compliance company, Wiley X, a military eyewear company, and Ruiz Foods.
Kelley-Moore Paints relocated its headquarters to Irving after moving its manufacturing operations to Hurst in 2017. Cacique Foods relocated its headquarters to Irving and opened its dairy processing plant in Amarillo this year.
Quickfee Solutions moved its national headquarters to Plano. AI company, Inbenta, relocated to Allen. Norwalk Frontier’s Communications moved its headquarters to Dallas. Kitchen appliance maker Thermonix relocated its headquarters to Dallas, with expansion plans in the works. Landsee Homes moved its corporate headquarters to Dallas.
The outlier was a wealth management company, KWK Management, which moved its headquarters to Houston instead of to north Texas.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has for years touted the state as the best for business and the state that attracts the most business relocations and expansion projects in the U.S. He frequently refers to Texas as the "headquarters of headquarters" because more Fortune 500 companies are located in Texas than in any other state.